Keep kids safe from the flu
so they can stay in class.
Set your children up for academic success by signing
them up for no-cost immunizations.
This past year’s flu epidemic was one of the worst in history, and it affected children
nationwide, maybe even yours. The flu threatened their health—and their academic
performance. The good news? Immunizations are effective. The even better news?
Healthy Schools offers them to public school students, at no cost to parents, and
during school hours, so kids don’t have to miss classes.
Sign up at schoolflushot.com for health tips and in-school flu shot updates

SUMMER 2018

features

14

10

30

18

10

Mom’s Toolbox of Summer Sanity Savers

12

The History of Mother’s Day

16

Appreciating Your Mother-In-Law

18

Best Cruises for Kids

22

2018 Summer Camp Guide

32

Birthday Party Basics

34

10 Items to Pack in Your Child’s Camp Lunch

36

3 Surprising Ways Pets Benefit Your Kids

38

Simple Steps to Save Lives

44

Ten Ways to Celebrate the Summer Solstice

46

Yolo! A Summer Bucket List for
Your Middle School Daughter

57

Simple Steps for Switching Off

62

Protecting Children: Fostering Family Stability

departments
education
14

Early Learning Coalition of Flagler & Volusia

42

College Savings Day

56

National Teachers Day & Teacher Appreciation Week

60

St. Johns County School News

every issue

Coming in August

8

Our Community

40

Reel Life with Jane

The Back-To-School Issue

48

May 2018 Family Fun Guide

Community Events, School News,
Back-To-School Shopping, School Fashion
Tips to Prepare Pre-Schoolers

52

Florida Fashion

64

St. Johns County Libraries

2 SUMMER 2018

www.VolusiaParent.com
(386) 437-0300

Reader Services
Calendar Submissions:
We publish information about family events within and
surrounding our county. We would love to hear from
you! If you have a family event, fundraiser or childrens
activity/program please send your information to editor@bradymediainc.com Deadline for submitting information is approximately one month prior to the month
in which the event will occur.
Subscriptions
We now have subscription service direct to your home.
We are offering these services for only $10 per year
for 11 issues of Flagler Parent Magazine. You can also
subscribe for FREE to our digital edition for your iPad,
iPhone, NOOK, Kindle Fire, or Android Device. Visit our
website www.bradymediainc.com and click SUBSCRIBE.
Feedback:
We Welcome Your Feedback & Thoughts. In our continuous effort to improve our publications, we look forward
to your thoughts, questions and feedback on how we can
better tailor information to your families needs. Please feel
free to send me an email at Charlie@bradymediainc.com.

SUMMER 2018 3

with

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New in Print & Online

St. Johns Parent

Florida Baby - Fall 2018
New in Schools,
On News Stands & Online

A special section that caters to pregnancy,
birth, babies, and toddlers, showcasing products,
services and ideas for young families.
Publishing: September 2018
Advertising Deadline: August 1st

Do you want to work for the
most talked about family
magazine in Flagler County?
We are looking for experienced Ad Sales
Representatives who are motivated, energetic, and familiar with Flagler County.
We offer a very competitive compensation
package. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to be considered,
please forward your resume to:
jeanne@touchpointis.com

We offer the fastest ER wait times in the area.
We are ready to treat you or a loved one during an emergency.
Check out our wait times at
MemorialHospitalJax.com/TakeThat.

42 Doctors Village Dr.
St Johns, FL 32259
(904) 407-8500

memorialemergency
JULINGTON

CREEK

SUMMER 2018 5

Parent to Parent
Publisher / Editor
Charlene Michaux
charlie@bradymediainc.com
386-547-0161
Graphic Artist
Stephen Savidge
Charlene Michaux
Publisher/Editor
charlie@bradymediainc.com
When I created Flagler Parent Magazine, I had no idea that it would
grow to become such a successful magazine. In fact, it was supposed to just
bring in extra money so I could stay home with my infant son, Brady.
Little did I know how successful it would become in such a short time and
that’s because of continued community support, and readers like you.
My goal starting out was to create a community based parenting magazine
that would be a “go-to” resource for families when planning a night out, a
family vacation or just a fun filled weekend... and according to our parent
and advertiser’s feedback, that goal was met!
These last few months have been an exciting whirlwind filled with mixed
emotions. I re-married, bought a new home in St Augustine, started a new
career, and yes, I have sold the magazines. This is a sad and joyful time for
me as I am writing my last publisher’s letter. I decided it was time to begin a
new chapter with my family.
I have made arrangements with a buyer who really appreciates the
magazines, is familiar with the community, and is keen and capable of developing the magazine’s potential i order to take the publications to the next
level. The new publishers will take over with the August “Back to School”
issue so be on the lookout for an exciting new look!
It has been a pleasure serving you as the publisher of Volusia, Flagler and
St. Johns Parent Magazines. It has meant a great deal to me and my family
that you have supported us for over 10 years! Thank you from the bottom
of my heart!
Finally, I would like to wish all of you Moms out there a wonderful Mother’s
Day filled with love and joy !
Love,

Charlie

6 SUMMER 2018

Photography
Marina Pierre
386-283-8005
marina@marinas-photography.com

Contributors
Lara Krupicka
Deanne Haines
Rachel Moshman
Lisa A. Bean
Sue LeBreton
Pam Molnar
Flagler Parent, Volusia Parent, and St. Johns Parent
Magazines are published by Brady Media, Inc. and
are copyrighted 2008. Brady Media, Inc. All Rights
Reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without
written permission from Brady Media, Inc. is prohibited. Flagler Parent and Volusia Parent reserve the
right to reject advertisements or listings that are not
in keeping with the publication’s satndard. Submissions are welcome, but the publisher assumes no
responsibility for the return of unsolicited materials.
Flagler Parent and Volusia Parent do not endorse or
assume responsibility for information, products, services or statements made by advertisers or editorial
contributors. The Flagler County or Volusia County
School Boards are not affiliated with these publications in any manner, nor do they endorse ro assume
any responsibility for any of the information or advertisements contained in therein.

Our Community
Events for Charitable Causes ~ St. Johns County
Fins and Freedom Sail
St. Augustine’s premier tall ship, the Schooner Freedom, partners with marine experts from Marineland to offer visitors a special two-hour sail called Fins
and Freedom on select Fridays from March to September in 2018.
Guests can sail with educators from the world’s first “oceanarium” and learn
all about dolphins in their natural habitat, as well as the important conservation
work going on at Marineland today. As with all sails offered by Schooner Freedom, guests are welcome to help the crew raise the sails and assist with other
sailing duties.
Admission: The rate of $60 for adults and $45 for kids (16 and under) includes
complimentary soda, water, beer and wine on the sail. Also included in the
ticket price is admission to Marineland at any point after the sail.
When: This sail departs at 2:15 p.m. on select Fridays in the spring and summer. Dates are March 16, April 13, May 11, May 26, June 8,
June 29, July 20, August 10, August 31, and September 21, 2018.
Where: Sails depart from the St. Augustine Municipal Marina located at 111 Avenida Menendez, Slip 86, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Ripley’s Free Summer Movies
• Ripley Entertainment in St. Augustine brings back its popular Free Summer Movies
Series (formerly Movies By the Bay) at Colonial Oak Music Park on Wednesdays from
June 6 to August 1, 2018. Free family-friendly movies are shown at 8:30 p.m. every
Wednesday night (with the exception of July 4) from June 6 through August 1, 2018.
Guests should bring a chair or blanket to relax and enjoy these special movie showings, which begins on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, with a special screening of Breaking
Legs: High School Dance Movie. The full summer schedule is below.
Ripley’s Red Train Tours offers complimentary shuttles to the top of St. George Street
(where Colonial Oak Music Park is located) from the Red Train stops at the Visitors
Information Center and at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum on movie nights. The
shuttles run from 7:30 until 8:30 p.m., and will also return guests to their stop after the movie. Admission is free.
When: Every Wednesday evening at 8:30 p.m., from June 6 until August 1, 2018. (No showing on July 4.)
Where: Colonial Oak Music Park is located at 27 St. George Street, adjacent to the Colonial Quarter. The Visitors Information Center is
located opposite the city parking garage, at 10 W. Castillo Drive. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum is located at 19 San Marco Avenue.
For more information on this event please visit here or call Ripley’s at (904) 824-1606.

4th of July Fireworks at Lighthouse
Wednesday, July 4, 2018, at 9:00 p.m.
Visitors to St. Augustine can enjoy the city’s spectacular fireworks show from the top of the St. Augustine
Lighthouse.
• The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum hosts a special viewing of the Fourth of July fireworks
from the top of the light station on Wednesday, July 4, 2018, at 9:00 p.m.
The view from the top of the Lighthouse is always breathtaking, but when the annual Fireworks Over the
Matanzas show is lighting up the sky on July 4th, the spectacle is unforgettable.
This ticketed event sells out quickly. Reservations can be made by visiting here.
Admission: Tickets prices are $40.00 for adults and $35.00 for children under 12.
When: Wednesday, July 4, 2018, at 9:00 p.m. Please check in by 8:45 p.m.
Where: St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum located at 100 Red Cox Rd. in St. Augustine, FL 32080.

Do you know an organization that deserves a spotlight? Send us an email 30 days prior to the event for
consideration. editor@bradymediainc.com Events will be listed on a first-come first-served basis.
8 MARCH 2018

SUMMER 2018 9

feature

FEATURE STORY

Mom’s Toolbox
of Summer Sanity Savers
by Lara Krupicka

“I'm bored.” “There's nothing to do!” Moms dread to hear these refrains, especially in the weeks after the school
year ends. Between keeping the house running smoothly, and ensuring a good balance of entertainment, education and
relaxation, it can be overwhelming. But with preparation and the right tools, you can save your sanity and make it a summer to remember.
Here are a few proven summer-ready tools any mom can use...
The Job Jar
You know those tasks that always
fall to the bottom of the list? Summer
can be a great time to have the kids
help you complete them. Breaking
them into fifteen-minute jobs and
setting up a lottery system for assigning them (where everyone has a
chance of drawing a "day off") can
make chores less like work.
Create your own job jar by designating an empty container to fill with
slips of paper containing the chores
to be done, (along with some free
day slips). Include tasks such as: wiping down kitchen cabinet fronts,
dusting slats on wood blinds, and
cleaning out the silverware drawer.
Make the jobs simpler for younger
children or plan on assisting, should
they draw a more difficult job. Also,
keep duties brief enough to be easily
completed in fifteen minutes
You can put an entire summer's
worth of jobs in the jar and have children draw slips daily until the jar is
empty. Or you can fill it weekly with
enough chores for children to draw
one apiece each day. Then make note
of small tasks around the house as
you notice them, to be added to the
job jar later.
The Reading Ratchet
What will your kids be reading
this summer or what will you read to
them? Whether you live with kids
who have an unending appetite for
books, or have to bribe your child to
crack one open, it helps to have a list
to work from. Add this tool to your
20 • May 2014 / www.flaglerparent.com
10 SUMMER 2018

belt now and you'll be able to reach
for it all summer long - whether in
response to the occasional "I'm
bored" or to fill the stretches of time
during a long car ride or plane trip.
Don't feel like you have to create a
list all on your own (although if
you've been meaning to have your
kids read some of your favorites,
now's your chance). There are plenty
of reading lists available for kids of all
ages. If your school hands out a summer reading list, start with that.
Some kids enjoy the challenge of
reading all the recent award-winners.
And occasionally schools offer

rewards for those who complete a
list. Book awards include the
Caldecott Medal (for picture books),
Geisel medal (beginning reader),
Newbery (most distinguished children's book), and Coretta Scott King
(African American authors and illustrators). Many states also have their
own young readers' book awards, in
which students can participate by
reading a minimum number of books
from the list of nominees before voting for their favorites.
As a parent, you can also create
your own reading list to target specific goals you have for your children.

Job Jar Ideas
Kara Haas requires her two sons to
read three different types of books
each summer: one Christian biography, one historical fiction and one fiction. Then she asks them answer
questions she and her husband have
created.
The Fun Friday Blueprint
Every mom should have a master plan for fun. Decide when you'll
make local excursions and where
you'll go. Some moms, like Emily
Neal, make the outings a weekly
event and invite friends to join
them. This makes planning ahead
important.
Involve your children in brainstorming destinations. You could
include nearby water parks, new-toyou playgrounds, ice cream shops,
museums, zoos, and gardens. Don't
forget to have both indoor and outdoor options so you can flex with the
weather.
Even a trip to the party store to
buy zany masks for at-home fun can
make a difference, Neal points out.
"Sometimes the simplest things are
the coolest," she says.
Having a plan for fun ensures
that you won't be stuck at home
wondering what to do. And you
won't finish the summer regretting
not visiting places you'd hoped to.
"It's important to be deliberate
about it," says Neal. "It's fun to look
back and have all those memories."

The Life Skills Drill
School is for learning the three
R's. Home is where our children
should be mastering life skills that
enable them to navigate the everyday world. Start with the basics
such as cleaning a bathroom and
then progress in the tween and
teen years to such skills as balancing a checkbook and changing the
oil on a car.
Haas has made skill development
a priority for her boys' summers.
"Every summer since they were ten
they have learned a new skill that will
help them when they own their own
home or manage their homes. Some
years it has been painting, placing
sidewalk pavers, basic construction,
and even sewing," she explains. "I'd
watch their life and think, what are
they old enough to do? Or what am I
tired of doing for them?"
Choose one or two new skills
you'd like to see your child master.
Then create a plan. How often will they
practice the new skill - once a week,
once a month, or repetitively for a
short time during the course of a single longer project? Who will teach
them the skill and how will the child
demonstrate he has mastered it?
Using these tools you'll be keeping your children active mentally and
socially. And they'll be helping you
out and developing abilities that will
last long after the summer is over.

Wipe down fronts of
kitchen cabinets
Wash out insides of all
household wastebaskets
Wipe down baseboards
(in one or two given rooms)
Cean fingerprints from door jams
(in one room)
Vacuum off couches and chairs
and under cushions
Wipe down chair rungs
in dining room
Pull weeds in one flower bed
Dust off fan blades
of all ceiling fans

The History of Mother’s Day
From the the ancient Greeks to modern times Mothers
have been honored anually with a special day.
But how did Mother’s Day begin? Let’s find out...
Early Beginnings of Mother’s Day
Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the
ancient Greeks and Romans, who held
festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day
is the early Christian festival known as
“Mothering Sunday.” Once a major
tradition in the United Kingdom and
parts of Europe, this celebration fell on
the fourth Sunday in Lent and was
originally seen as a time when the
faithful would return to their “mother
church”—the main church in the vicinity of their home—for a special service.
Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition shifted into a more secular holiday,
and children would present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of
appreciation. This custom eventually
faded in popularity before merging
with the American Mother’s Day in the
1930s and 1940s.
Mother’s Day Founding
by Anna Jarvis
The official Mother’s Day holiday
arose in the 1900s as a result of the
efforts of Anna Jarvis. Following her
20 SUMMER
• May 12
2015
12
2018
SUMMER 2017

Anna Jarvis

mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for
their children.
In May 1908, after gaining financial
backing from Philadelphia department
store owner John Wanamaker, Anna
Jarvis organized the first official
Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist
church in Grafton, West Virginia. That
same day also saw thousands of people
attend a Mother’s Day event at a
Wanamaker’s retail store in Philadelphia.

Following the success of her first
Mother’s Day, Jarvis—who remained
unmarried and childless her whole
life—resolved to see her holiday added
to the national calendar. She started a
massive letter writing campaign to
newspapers and prominent politicians
urging the adoption of a special day
honoring motherhood. By 1912 many
states, towns and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual holiday,
and Jarvis had established the Mother’s
Day International Association to help
promote her cause. Her persistence
paid off in 1914 when President
Woodrow Wilson signed a measure
officially establishing the second
Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
Anna Jarvis had originally conceived
of Mother’s Day as a day of personal
celebration between mothers and families. Her version of the day involved
wearing a white carnation as a badge
and visiting one’s mother or attending
church services. But once Mother’s Day
became a national holiday, it was not
long before florists, card companies
and other merchants capitalized on its
popularity.
By 1920 Anna Jarvis had become
disgusted with how the holiday had
been commercialized. She outwardly
denounced the transformation and
urged people to stop buying Mother’s
Day flowers, cards and candies. Jarvis
eventually resorted to an open campaign against Mother’s Day profiteers,
speaking out against confectioners,
florists and even charities. She also
launched countless lawsuits against
groups that had used the name
“Mother’s Day,” eventually spending
most of her personal wealth in legal
fees. By the time of her death in 1948
Jarvis had disowned the holiday altogether, and even actively lobbied the
government to see it removed from
the American calendar.

Did You Know?

More phone calls are made on
Mother’s Day than any other day
of the year. These holiday chats
with Mom often cause phone
traffic to spike by as much as 37
percent.

SUMMER 2018 13

education
education

heart-shaped poster with small ‘love’
notes for the teacher. Involve class
parents and setup a week of pampering – parents take turns bringing
the teacher a treat in the morning
(like her favorite coffee), delivering
lunch, or volunteering during the
school day to give the teacher a little
extra support.
4. A School-Wide Event
Volunteer to coordinate a potluck
breakfast for the teachers. Ask parents to sign up to bring breakfast
goodies such as muffins, bagels and
cream cheese, breakfast tacos, croissants, fresh fruit, coffee and doughnuts (being mindful that teachers are
trying to eat healthy, too). Bonus: ask
local salons, restaurants and movie
theatres to donate discounts and gift
cards as door prizes for teachers.

Teacher & Child Care Provider
Provider
WeekisisMay
May7-11
2-6
Week
Take the time to celebrate your
child’s teachers and care givers!
Careers in child care and education
often come with low-to-moderate
pay and long hours. Support from
families can ease the difficult work
teachers do. Now is the perfect time
to personally thank these professionals for their sacrifices and support for
children throughout the year. While
appreciation alone will not reduce
the challenges they face, it will let
them know their efforts are not
going unnoticed.
Teachers and child care providers
play a key role in children’s success
and sometimes a simple “thanks” is
all they need to feel valued. During
this special week, consider doing a
little something extra to show your
gratitude. Here are five great nocost to low cost ideas to help you
make your child’s teachers and care
givers feel special all week long:
1. A Handwritten Thank You
Note from You
A heartfelt, handwritten thank you
16 SUMMER
• May 20162018
14

note goes a long way to sharing the
love. Make it even more meaningful by
including something specific the
teacher has said or done that has made
a difference to your child.

2. A Handwritten Thank You
Note from Your Child
Teachers treasure personal notes
from their students. Ask any
teacher – she’ll likely have several
stashed away for safe keeping.
Here are some sentence starters to
share with your kids:

5. Thanks that Keeps on Growing
Have your child or the class decorate a flower pot and fill it with a
beautiful plant. Add a note that
says “Thanks for helping me grow
this year!”
It’s important for our community
to recognize the efforts of teachers
and child care providers everyday
and to take the time to celebrate
them in May!
Visit: http://www.providerappreciationday.org/resources.php to
learn more about this special week
and what you can do to celebrate
the important teachers and care
providers who are there every day
for you and your family!

• You’re extra special because…
• Thank you for…
• I love how you…
• This year you’ve taught me…
Make the gesture even more memorable by adding a hand-drawn picture or a photo of your child and
teacher together.
3. A Classroom-Wide Effort
Have each child bring one flower
on a designated day and sign a big

The Early Learning Coalition of Flagler &
Volusia (ELCFV) administers subsidized School
Readiness early learning child care programs
for children birth to age five and the Voluntary
Pre-Kindergarten program for four-year olds.
For information about ELCFV programs and
services, call 386 323-2400 or toll free 877
352-0065 or visit www.elcfv.org. Follow the
ELCFV on Facebook: search ELCFV.

Best Cruises For Kids
Despite great strides made by cruise lines in accommodating children onboard in recent years, choosing the best cruises for families
with kids is still complicated. Where once it was a struggle to find ships that were kid-friendly, the challenge now is wading through the
bevy of activities, kids clubs, family cabins and child-themed bells and whistles many ships offer to determine which cruise ships are best
for your youngsters. Some ships are still better for infants than others, and ditto for teens. Not all itineraries are created equal, either.
(Alaska and the Caribbean are destinations that tend to be kid-friendly.)
To make decisions even trickier, ships vary greatly, not just from line to line but within fleets, making some better than others in terms
of onboard activities. We tend to recommend cruise lines’ newer ships because the facilities were designed for families from the outset,
not just adapted. They also tend to be the biggest ships, offering more space for fun activities, such as bowling alleys, elaborate water
parks with massive slides, ropes courses, bumper cars and surfing and skydiving simulators. They’re likely to have more dining options,
family-specific accommodations and the latest brand-name partnerships. The ships -- and cruise lines -- that follow are our top cruises
for kids. That said, you know your family’s tastes and preferences better than we ever could. By no means are they the only ships to
consider. Think of them as a starting point as you narrow your choices for an unforgettable family vacation at sea.

#1 Royal Caribbean International

Ships: Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the
Seas, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas
Why...? These ships, Royal Caribbean’s
largest, are ideal for families with kids of
all ages, as well as multigenerational family
groups. The Oasis-class ships have an impressive selection of family-friendly activities
and entertainment four fantastic pools, 10
hot tubs, a 3D theater, rock climbing walls,
ice skating rink, two FlowRider surf simulators and a zipline -- and an array of family
cabins to accommodate groups of varying
sizes. And did we mention the ships’ indoor
promenades, which feature all manner of
parades and special events? Anthem of
the Seas takes it up a notch with SeaPlex
(featuring bumper cars, rollerskating, video
games and more), the first skydiving attraction at sea and the North Star, a London
Eye-esque ride that takes passengers in a
glass capsule 300 feet above the ocean .
18 SUMMER 2018

A sizable amount of real estate is dedicated
to the kids clubs on all of these ships, and
the counselors are some of the friendliest
and most engaging in the business. Parents
and grandparents can enjoy adults-only Solariums and a plethora of dining and
evening entertainment options. With nursery care, after-hours fun in the kids clubs
and in-cabin babysitting, adults can enjoy
grown-up time in the evenings while kids
play or sleep. (Voyager- and Freedom-class
ships are also great choices for families.)

The Program
Royal Caribbean divides kids into Aquanauts (ages 3 to 5), Explorers (6 to 8) and
Voyagers (9 to 11). Kids ages 12 to 14 can
take part in “open mic” karaoke contests
and rock wall challenges, while members of
the oldest group (15 to 17) have their own
toga parties and sports competitions.

The Program
Royal Caribbean divides kids into Aquanauts (ages 3 to 5), Explorers (6 to 8) and
Voyagers (9 to 11). Kids ages 12 to 14 can
take part in “open mic” karaoke contests
and rock wall challenges, while members of
the oldest group (15 to 17) have their own
toga parties and sports competitions. Both
tweens and teens have access to a separate
teen lounge, where they can come and go
as they like. The Royal Tots and Royal Babies
programs provide interactive classes and activities (when children are accompanied by
a parent) for children from 6 months to 36
months old, as well as drop-off babysitting
services. In-cabin babysitting is available for
children who are at least 1 year old.

Kid-Friendly Features
Plenty of family staterooms and loft suites
mean room for the family to spread out.
There’s even a Royal Family cabin that sleeps
eight. The spa offers special treatments for
teens. More than two dozen dining options,
including casual eateries like a hot dog joint
and a New York-style pizza joint, as well as
a variety of upscale specialty restaurants,
mean no taste is overlooked. Johnny Rockets, the 1950s-style luncheonette, is always
a kid magnet (and parents think it’s pretty cool, too). Anthem of the Seas features
an enormous family-friendly SeaPlex with
bumper cars, roller-skating, a circus school,
foosball and video games. Excellent Broadway-style shows in the evenings will keep
the older crowd engaged, while the DreamWorks experience offers character breakfasts, parades and meet-and-greets with
Shrek and the Kung Fu Panda for little ones.

Ships: Norwegian Escape, Norwegian
Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway and
Norwegian Epic
Why...? Norwegian’s casual atmosphere
makes it a great choice for kid cruises, particularly for families who don’t want to be
beholden to strict dining times and venues.
Norwegian’s newest ships, along with Norwegian Epic, offer all the mega-ship bells
and whistles families have come to expect.

#2 Norwegian Cruise Line

The Program
Norwegian’s Splash Academy features separate activities for kids ages 3 to 5, 6 to
9 and 10 to 12. Children can do arts and
crafts, sing karaoke and play video games.
Epic’s facility has a jungle gym, plenty
of room to roam and a cool interactive
light-up dance floor. The two-story Splash
Academies on Norwegian Escape, Breakaway and Getaway are the line’s largest
children’s spaces at sea, home to high-tech
games, a circus school and a small cinema.
Entourage is a space for teens 13 to 17,
and it has air hockey, video games, plush
couches and flat-screen TVs. Entourage
turns into a teens-only nightclub at night.
Late-night group babysitting is available
for a fee. While all ships have parent-child
play areas and programming for babies 6
months to 3 years, only Norwegian Escape
offers drop-off, extra-fee childcare for very
small children in the Guppies Nursery.

Kid-Friendly Features
Popular activities throughout these ships
include rock-climbing and rappelling
walls, climbing cages, six bowling lanes
and impressive water park areas. Epic has
a 303-foot-long corkscrew tube and the
Drainpipe, a 104-foot tube that empties
into a giant funnel. Breakaway and Getaway have five multistory water slides,
as well as The Plank, an 8-foot walk that
extends off the edge of the ship and out
over the sea. Escape offers the largest ropes

Kid-Friendly Features

#3 Princess Cruises

Ships: Regal Princess, Royal Princess, Ruby
Princess, Crown Princess and Emerald Princess
Why...? Princess’ ships include expansive
programs, facilities and accommodations
for parents and children. Princess’ newest
and largest ships, Royal and Regal Princess,
have even more great additions for families,
including expanded kids club spaces, more
dining options, a batting cage and laser
shooting range, a bigger pool deck with a
water and light show and poolside cabanas.

course at sea, as well as the largest water
park at sea. All four have two main pools,
including a separate kids pool.
Norwegian Epic hosts “Priscilla Queen of
the Desert the Musical,” a great show for
kids of all ages. Epic also has 46 two-bedroom family villas that sleep up to six people, while Breakaway and Getaway have 20
two-bedroom villas. On Escape, the Haven
has two-bedroom family suites that sleep up
to six passengers, and there are an additional
40 family mini-suites that feature bathtubs.

The Program
Dubbed Camp Discovery, the rebranded
kids’ clubs include The Treehouse (formerly
Pelicans) for ages 3 to 7, The Lodge (formerly Shockwaves) for ages 8 to 12, and
The Beach House (formerly Remix) for ages
13 to 17. In addition to activities that inspire
learning, children, tweens and teens will
find story time, video game tournaments,
movie nights, Skee-Ball play, scavenger
hunts and themed parties on the agenda.

On Grand-class ships (Ruby Princess, Crown
Princess, Emerald Princess), there are two
large pools that are suitable for families (Calypso Reef and Pool and Neptune Reef and
Pool), and there’s a splash pool dedicated to
kids. Royal and Regal Princess have outdoor
play areas with a jungle gym for kids ages 3
to 7, and another for teens with a teens-only
hot tub and space for outdoor parties.
Movies Under the Stars is the line’s huge outdoor movie theater that plays poolside features on the top deck after the sun sets. The
300-square-foot screen broadcasts kid- and
teen-friendly movies, as well as fun-for-thewhole-gang blockbusters, and live sporting
events and awards shows. Princess offers an
Adventures Ashore tour program with shore
excursions appropriate for families. Plus, the
line’s Discovery at Sea program features
special excursions and activities inspired by
programming such as Shark Week.
SUMMER 2018 19

Circle C pre-teens (12 to 14) and Club O2
teens (15 to 17) have their own spaces, and
kids have access to regular dance and pool
parties, special teens-only shore excursions
and PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

#4 Carnival Cruise Line

Kid-Friendly Features
A huge draw for kids on all ships is WaterWorks, an aqua park with a variety of water
slides, sprayers, soakers and even a dump
bucket. Kids can play in the pool, as well as
SportSquare, an outdoor activity area with
a mini-golf course, basketball courts and
foosball tables, and the thrilling new SkyRide cycling attraction on Vista. A SplashZone (a tot-friendly section of WaterWorks
with water sprayers and room for splashing)
for younger kids also is on offer.
Ships: Carnival Vista, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic
Why...? Carnival Cruise Line’s Dream-class
ships and its newest vessel, Vista, offer an
array of onboard fun and do a great job
accommodating kids of all ages, with separate clubs for the 2 to 11 set, tweens and
teens. The ships offer a terrific variety of
family activities and spaces, plus top-notch
kids clubs. Families will make good use of
two outdoor pools and SportsSquare; a
multistory IMAX theater (Vista only); and
some of the largest at-sea water parks.
Ships Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and
Disney Magic
Why...? Disney ships are ideal for families
with kids ages 4 to 11, as Disney has the
best facilities, dining schemes and programs
for this age group. Disney Cruise Line has
done a lot more to accommodate tweens
and teens -- but its ships still hold the most
appeal for the younger set. We prefer the
line’s biggest ships, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, and the completely refurbished
Disney Magic, though Disney Wonder can
be a great choice, as well.

The Program
Disney takes a separate-but-together approach to its kids programming, mainly to
accommodate siblings and friends traveling
together. The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer
Lab allow children ages 3 to 12 to access the
same spaces but with programming geared
toward each younger and older children.
20 SUMMER 2018

The Program
The fleetwide Camp Ocean entertains cruisers ages 2 to 11 with marine-themes activities and more. Camp Ocean occupies a large
chunk of upper-deck real estate, while the
tween and teen clubs are separate from the
little ones on lower decks. Toddlers ages 2 to
5 (called Penguins) have sing-alongs and dabble in arts and crafts. Stingrays ages 6 to 8 get
to design custom aquariums and take part in
Pirate Game Night. Sharks ages 9 to 11 play
music Jeopardy, design their own cruise ships
and play sports like basketball and volleyball.

Watch movies outside on the Dream-class
ships at the Seaside Theatre, a 22-foot jumbo screen. Breeze is home to the Thrill Theater, a 3D-movie joint with “multidimensional effects” (think seats moving, wind
blowing and even water splashing during
films). On Vista, a huge Multiplex Lobby
screens flicks in both an IMAX Theater and
a Thrill Theater. Families can cavort on a
deceptively scary ropes course or take part
in Carnival’s “Hasbro, The Game” show, a
friendly competition and stage show with
games as prizes.

#5 Disney Cruise Line

On all three ships, the Oceaneer Club offers several themed play areas, including
Andy’s Room (from “Toy Story”). On Fantasy, you’ll find Monsters Academy (inspired
by “Monsters, Inc.”), while on Magic you’ll
encounter Marvel’s Avengers Academy, a
S.H.I.E.L.D. command post where kids can
interact with the Avengers through a virtual
game. A new addition to Dream is a replica
of the Millennium Falcon from “Star Wars.”

Kid-Friendly Features
Mickey’s Pool, for the youngest cruisers, is on
one side of the ship, and an adults-only pool is
located on the other, with Donald’s Pool in the
center for families or general use. The popular
AquaDuck waterslide is a big hit with families
on Fantasy and Dream, while the AquaDunk
thrills onboard Disney Magic. On Fantasy and
Magic, the AquaLab has sprayers and geysers
perfect for the smallest passengers.

City of Port Orange Parks and Recreation
Presents

June 11 - August 3
Elementary Program
Ages 5-12
$450 per camper
Limited to 150 campers

Teen Travel Program

The Elementary Camp is a five (5) day a
week program; Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m.

Ages 12-14
$550 per camper
Limited to 65 campers

Location: Silver Sands Middle School
Loc

The Teen Travel Program is a
four (4) day a week program;
Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Field Trip Package is $175 for
ages 8-12 and consists of six (6)
field trips throughout the program.

Location: Port Orange Gymnasium
Loc

Registration starts on March 12, 2018
Register at the Port Orange Gymnasium - 4655 City Center Circle
To reserve your spot in our program, a 25% deposit is required
and all balances must be paid in full by June 8, 2018.
For more information please contact Peter Ferreira at
386-506-5864 or pferreira@port-orange.org
Parks and Recreation

ids ages 7-12 and teens 13-17 can make a splash
and have a blast at our S.E.A. and T.E.E.N. Camps!
Head to Marineland Dolphin Adventure for a week
overflowing with science, activities, exploration,
beach combing, and dolphin fun!

Sessions run Monday–Friday from June–August.
Space is limited, so reserve your child’s week of
adventure today.

Special Needs Camps
CampAbility Special Day Camp 2018
** Ad Inside **
Ability Tree First Coast is a nonprofit agency
with a mission to reach families impacted by
disability through Recreation, Education, Support and Training (R.E.S.T.). CampAbility is our
summer day camp. We provide educational and
therapeutic summer services to elementary-aged
children with special needs in a fun and safe
environment.
Camp Week: 6/11-6/15, 6/18-6/22, 6/25-6/29,
7/2-7/6, 7/9-7/13, 7/16-7/20, 7/23-7/27, 7/30-8/3
Half/Full: Full Day
June 11 - August 3
Hours: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Grades: Elementary
Age: entering kindergarten - 5th grade (this
includes siblings)
Full-time rate: child with special needs - $250/
session, sibling - $185/session Part-time/daily
rate: child with special needs - $60/day, sibling
- $40/day
Area: St. Augustine
St. Johns Academy, St. Augustine, FL, 32086
9044948583
firstcoast@abilitytree.org
The Chase Academy
CAMP CHASE
Serving the Spectrum Community
Summer does not have to be a time of languishing skills and lost learning. The Chase Academy
has summer explorations available for each age
group to help maintain and develop skills that
are unique to kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Summer is a prime time to learn
something different and something new. The
Chase Academy is here to help build a better,
more productive summer for kids with ASD.
Weekly activity camps include games, activities
and a field trip.
Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm,
$125 per week, and one time registration fee
of $25.
TCAofVolusia.org
2400 S. Ridgewood, #17
South Daytona, FL 32119
386-690-0893

Birthday Party Basics:
Five Building Blocks for a Successful At-Home Bash
by Lara Krupicka

Many parents face their children's
birthdays with a mixture of joy and
dread - joy at being able to celebrate
with their child and dread over how
they're going to go about that celebration and how much it will cost. The athome birthday party, once the universal
form of celebration has been largely
replaced by a variety of venues offering
party services. And parents often turn
to these places out of a desire to avoid
the difficulty of hosting the party themselves. But planning and hosting a
birthday party can be simple if you
work with five basic building blocks.
Theme
The most basic building block and
the foundation on which all the others
will rest is your party theme. It also will
be the easiest since most kids have an
idea of what "kind" of party they'd like
to have long before their birthday rolls
18 â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2014 / www.flaglerparent.com

32 SUMMER
SEPTEMBER
2018
2017

around. You'll find with a theme in
mind, many of the other pieces will fall
in place.
Food
A group of active kids is going to
need fuel. You'll want to consider how
much of your party you want to devote
to eating when choosing the time of
day to hold your bash. Mid-afternoon
parties meaning serving lunch. Late
afternoon parties lend themselves to
fun munchies. As you lay out your
party plan, be sure to leave time for
eating, even if it's simply designating
"cake time". And if you're serving a
meal, make sure you've planned time
(at the right time) to get everyone
served and fed.
Marnie Ann Pacino, author of Cool
Party, Mom!, suggests keeping the
food simple, particularly since kids can
be picky eaters. But simple doesn't

have to be boring. "Make it fun!" says
Pacino. "The simplest of snacks can be
partied up by serving them in a new
way." Check out the sidebar for two of
her fun food ideas.
Particularly if you've got a crowd of
older kids, creating the food can
become a bigger portion of your party
time. Build-your-own mini pizzas make
a great meal kids enjoy both preparing
and consuming. Or set up a taco bar
and let them get creative.
Games and special activities
Silly party games make up the body
structure of a successful at-home party.
This is your chance to let the crowd
wiggle and giggle and run around. To
prevent the wildness from getting out
of hand, intersperse your games
throughout the party. Play one game
early on to get things rolling. Then
switch to another activity before play-

ing another game. And always plan
more games than you think you'll
need. They tend to go much quicker
than you realize when played by a
group of lively kids. Three to five games
usually fit well into a 2 to 2 Â˝ hour
party. And remember to look for ways
to customize the games to fit your
party theme. A game of "Doggy,
Doggy, Where's Your Bone?" can
become "Slipper, Slipper, Who's Got
the Glass Slipper?" for a princess party.
You can also capitalize on your
party's theme by planning themerelated activities, such as a treasure
hunt for a Pirate party or an "archeological dig" for an Egyptian-themed
party. These activities frequently
become the highlight of home-based
parties and kids will talk about them
long after the party.
Don't be afraid to break out the
board games, particularly if they fit
your theme. Engaging a few guests in a
game of "Pretty, Pretty Princess" while
the others work on a princess crown
craft can make the process smoother
and enjoyable for everyone. Be sure to
pick one with a short game-play time
to keep the party rolling.
Some good websites for party
games are:
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/party/games
.html (particularly good for older kids
& tweens)
http://www.partygameideas.com
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com
Crafts
Add some dimension to your party
by offering a craft activity. Not big on
crafts? As Pacino points out, "The
best part of crafting with kids is that
you do not need to be a craft diva
with a glue stick tucked behind your
ear". Giving kids a chance to make
something with their hands builds
both a quieter activity and a takehome gift into your party plan.
For younger children you'll want to
stay away from crafts involving glue or
paint. Keep the activity as simple as
possible and enlist a few parents to
stick around for extra sets of hands
during this part of your party.
Take care in planning the timing of
your craft. If the item involves a drying

or setting time to finish, make certain
to do it early in your party to allow adequate time.
Presents
Presents cap off the at-home party.
While many party sites discourage kids
from opening presents with their
friends, home parties make the ideal
setting for this. Kids love to watch their
friend's reaction to their gift and enjoy
seeing what other gifts are given.
Planning this activity into your party
not only rounds out the schedule, but
allows for some fun interaction.
Make this an event by providing the
birthday child a special place to sit while
opening, so all the guests can see him.
You can also add a second chair beside
the first for the gift giver to watch up
close as his present is opened. This
helps avoid any complaints about missing out on the action.
With these five building blocks,
you're well on your way to building an
amazing party. Simply adjust each element to reflect the particular theme of
your child's party and you'll have a
party you can be proud of.

Wormy Burgers
The day before the party add
chopped, cooked spaghetti noodles
to mini-hamburger patties, and grill
as usual. Refrigerate overnight and
re-heat in the oven. Serve the Wormy
Burgers on dollar rolls (from the
book, Cool Party, Mom!)

www.bradymediainc.com /Summer
2014 â&#x20AC;˘ 19
SUMMER 2017 33

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10 Items to Pack in Your
Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Camp Lunch
My daughter plays hard at day camp and spends long hours in the heat. She comes home filthy and exhausted.
She was also coming home absolutely starving until I figured out what to pack in her lunchbox to keep her fueled
all day. The standard lunch I'd been sending to school just wasn't cutting it for camp.
Here are some suggestions for items to pack in your campers lunchbox to keep them satisfied all day...
by Rachel Moshman

Two sandwiches
One just wasn't enough! She's having
light bologna with mustard and 2%
American cheese this week. Last week, it
was ham, cucumber, avocado and carrots
rolled up in a tortilla.

Fresh veggies
My daughter is so hungry at camp that
she'll even eat whatever vegetables I throw in
there! I have given her celery, baby carrots,
bell pepper slices and grape tomatoes. The
baggie almost always comes home empty!

A breakfast bar or muffin
My daughter is usually too sleepy or
rushed to sit down for breakfast in the
morning. Throwing something she can
easily munch on once she gets to camp
has worked out well. It's also a good midmorning snack on days that she does eat
breakfast at home. I have a big batch of
homemade carrot/zucchini muffins in the
freezer and either toss one of those or an
oats and fiber bar in her lunchbox.

Frozen grapes
They help keep the lunch cool and are
defrosted when it's time to eat. I throw in
other fresh fruit as well.

A treat or money for the concession stand
Sometimes I'll give her a brownie or small
bag of chips. Other days, I toss in a dollar
and let her choose something from the concession stand. She's active and burning off
the calories, so I don't worry about her
enjoying a treat.
Sunscreen
Putting it in the lunchbox helps remind
kids to reapply it. It also keeps it cool, which
feels refreshing on hot, sweaty skin.

Extra ice packs
Most camps don't have refrigerators available and the lunches are sometimes outside
for a long time before it is time to eat. No
one wants to eat a warm lunch in the heat
of summer. Invest in a good quality insulated lunchbox and ice packs.
Love notes or mementos from home
My daughter loves camp, but she misses
home more than she does during a school day.
Little notes or trinkets help her get through the
day without too much homesickness.
A refillable water bottle and flavor packets
Fill the bottle with ice and water. Throw in
some single serving pack drink mixes
(lemonade, fruit punch, etc.) This will
encourage your child to stay hydrated
throughout the day.
Playing outside in the hot sun all day takes
a lot of energy. Most children need more
food and hydration than normal. Pack plenty of healthy snacks and drinks, in addition
to lunch, to keep them going strong.

SUMMER 2018 35

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3 Surprising Ways
Pets Benefit Your Kids
It’s 6 a.m. and you hear your baby whimpering. He’s probably hungry, but you just want to
sleep a little longer. Nevertheless, like any good
parent, you get out of bed to feed him.
But you’re not feeding your infant son.
You’re feeding Rocky, your beloved golden
retriever who is such an integral part of your
family that you’re willing to get up at the
crack of dawn for him.
Why do you care so much? And what
does this special bond mean to your family?
As you incorporate a pet into your family’s daily rhythm, he quickly wiggles his way
into your hearts. He flashes his “I’ll-missyou” puppy dog eyes whenever you leave
the house and greets you at the door when
you come home. He wags his tail when you
talk to him and curls up next to your kids,
giving them a built-in snuggle buddy. In turn,
your family celebrates his birthday, takes
selfies with him, plays with him and takes
him on vacation. It’s a two-way love-fest.
“When I’m watching TV, Shadow sits on
my chest and rubs his head against me,”
explains Kevin, the “parent” of a 25 lb. cat.
“He’s so heavy that it’s a little hard to
breathe. Even though I’m gasping for air
14 • May 2016
36 SUMMER 2018

after a few minutes, I love his affection.”
Dr. Brian Benjamin of Ohio Drive Animal
Hospital in Plano, TX, understands the special bond.
“We have clients who celebrate
Christmas and hang a stocking on the fireplace with their pet’s name just like a kid in
the family,” says Dr. Benjamin.
3 Surprising Ways
Pets Benefit Your Kids
According to the American Academy of
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, growing up
with a pet can usher in a host of benefits.
They learn how to be responsible.
“In many ways, the pet becomes like a child
because it depends on its owner for food,
water, bathing and a clean, healthy environment,” says Dr. Benjamin. “And the
child becomes like a parent because he
takes on the responsibility of helping to
care for the pet.”
They learn big-picture lessons about
the circle of life, from birth and illnesses
to accidents and death. “Loss of a pet is
always difficult,” explains Dr. Benjamin.

by Lisa A. Beach

“This can be the first time a child experiences the loss of a loved one. It can lay the
groundwork and set the stage for what it
means to lose a family member.”
They often confide in their pets,
treating them like a trusted confidant. Pets
listen with no judgment, which helps kids
share their feelings. And pets cuddle and
provide comfort, which helps kids develop
compassion and non-verbal communication skills. “I have a son who has special
needs,” points out Dr. Benjamin, “and he
sometimes relates to pets in the house
more easily than he relates to people.”
It’s not just the kids who benefit from
pet-ownership. Parents can get in on the
tail-wagging benefits, too.
“People who share their houses with
pets can have less overall stress because the
pets act as a comforting factor,” says Dr.
Benjamin. “Studies have shown that petting a purring cat can reduce heart rate and
stress level.”
This might just make up for all those
mornings when you sacrifice extra shut-eye
to get up and feed your “baby.”

Simple Steps to Save Lives
Learn how simple safety steps save lives in and around pools and spas.
Parents and families can build on their current safety systems at pools and spas by adopting additional water safety steps.
Adding as many proven water safety steps as possible is the best way to assure a safe and fun experience, because you can never
know which one might save a child’s life—until it does.
• Never leave a child unattended in a
pool or spa and always watch your
child when he or she is in or near water

• Install and use a lockable safety cover
on your spa.

Keep children away from pool drains,
pipes and other openings to avoid
entrapments

• If your house serves as a fourth
side of a fence around a pool, install
door alarms and always use them.
For additional protection, install window guards on windows facing
pools or spas.

• Have a telephone close by when you
or your family is using a pool or spa

• Install pool and gate alarms to alert
you when children go near the water

• If a child is missing, look for him or
her in the pool or spa first

• Ensure any pool and spa you use has
compliant drain covers, and ask your
pool service provider if you do not
know

• Teach children basic water safety tips

• Share safety instructions with family,
friends and neighbors
• Learn how to swim and teach your
child how to swim
• Learn to perform CPR on children
and adults, and update those skills
regularly

38
2018
22 •SUMMER
May 2015

• Understand the basics of life-saving
so that you can assist in a pool emergency
• Install a four-foot or taller fence around
the pool and spa and use self-closing
and self-latching gates; ask your neighbors to do the same at their pools.

• Maintain pool and spa covers in
good working order
• Consider using a surface wave or
underwater alarm
For more information and up to date
resources on pool safety visit poolsafety.gov.

Florida School for
the Deaf & the Blind
FSDB is a tuition-free state public school and outreach center
available to eligible Pre-K and K-12 students who are
deaf/hard of hearing or blind/visually impaired.
At FSDB, deaf and blind students learn how to
do more, be more, and achieve more,
fulfilling our vision of preparing them
for a lifetime of success.

JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth?
Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow!
The stuff dreams are made of.

MOVIES FOR KIDS & TEENS
SUMMER 2018
THE SON OF BIGFOOT
Rated PG for action/peril, thematic elements and
some language. In Theaters 5/4. Ok for kids 6+.
Reel Review:
Teenage outsider Adam sets out on an epic and daring
quest to uncover the mystery behind his long-lost dad,
only to learn that he’s none other than the legendary
Bigfoot! He’s been hiding deep in the forest for years
to protect himself and his family from HairCo., a giant
corporation eager to run scientific experiments with
his special DNA. As father and son start to make up
for lost time, Adam soon discovers that he is also gifted with superpowers beyond his imagination. But little do they know, HairCo. is hot on their trail. Directed
by Ben Stassen and Jeremy Degruson, this cute family movie features the voice talent of Pappy Faulkner,
Chris Parson and Terrence Stone.

THE BOXCAR CHILDREN – SURPRISE ISLAND
Not yet rated; likely PG. In theaters 5/8 (one day only).
Ok for kids 7+.
Reel Preview:
The Alden children have a home with their grandfather
now – but their adventure is just beginning! The first
surprise comes when they learn they’ll be spending the
summer on their private island. A kind stranger who
lives there is always happy to help the children out, but
does this new friend have a secret? Based on the second book from the series by Gertrude Chandler, this
family movie features the voice talent of Martin Sheen,
J.K. Simmons, Joey King and Dane DeHaan.

DIGIMON ADVENTURE TRI: COEXISTENCE
Not yet rated; likely PG. In theaters 5/10 (one day
only). Ok for kids 7+.
Reel Preview:
Meicoomon once again begins to rampage when she
sees her partner Meiko injured by a mysterious man.
Meicoomon, who disappeared into the Real World, is
a distortion itself - in possession of too much power, and a key to destroying the world. The arrival of
Meicoomon starts the countdown to the Real World’s
collapse. A series of abnormal phenomena occur, but
the Digimon who appear through the distortions were
waiting for this time to come. The DigiDestined are
cast out of the Digital World, and after returning to
the Real World, are driven away by people because
of their accompanying partner Digimon. Meanwhile,
a cruel fate is imminent for Kari.

40 SUMMER 2018

LU OVER THE WALL
Rated PG for some peril and thematic elements. In
Theaters 5/11. Ok for kids 7+.
Reel Preview:
This movie is a family-friendly take on the classic fairy
tale about a little mermaid who comes ashore to join
a middle-school rock band and propel them to fame.
Kai is talented but adrift, spending his days sulking
in a small fishing village after his family moves from
Tokyo. His only joy is uploading his original songs to
the Internet. When his classmates invite him to play
keyboard in their band, their practice sessions bring
an unexpected guest: Lu, a young mermaid whose
fins turn to feet when she hears the beats, and whose
singing causes humans to dance - whether they want
to or not.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY
Not yet rated; likely PG-13. In theaters 5/25. Ok for
kids 12+.
Reel Preview:
Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark
and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo (Alden
Ehrenreich) befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian
(Donald Glover), in a journey that will set the course of
one of the “Star Wars” saga’s most unlikely heroes.

SHOW DOGS
Rated PG for suggestive and rude humor, language and
some action. In theaters 5/18. Ok for kids 7+.
Reel Preview:
This family movie stars a charming and lovable cast
of talking canine characters, including our hero Max
(voiced by Ludacris), a rugged lone-wolf Rottweiler
NYPD police dog. Max and his human FBI partner (Will
Arnett) are investigating the kidnapping of a baby panda by an underground network of illegal animal traders
when they get a tip that the crime ring is planning to
sell the panda at the prestigious Canini Invitational Dog
Show. The ultra-macho Max must undergo a makeover
with the help of a seasoned trainer (Natasha Lyonne),
including mud baths and ballet lessons, to go undercover in order to thwart the plot. In the hands of his
new human handler Frank, Max gets in touch with his
inner show dog and learns that trusting the help of others can sometimes be more rewarding than working
alone. Scarlett Johansson, Bryan Cranston, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray and Greta Gerwig.

SUMMER 2018 41

education

42 SUMMER 2018

SUMMER 2018 43

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FEATURE STORY

Ten Ways to Celebrate
the Summer Solstice

by Sue LeBreton

For those of us in the northern
hemisphere, June 21 marks the
longest day of the year and heralds
the start of our beloved summer season. The summer solstice presents
another opportunity for families to
celebrate, bond and think about
adding new rituals to their lives.
In The Book of New Family
Traditions, author Meg Cox, author
says, “rituals and celebrations help kids
feel connected and valued.” She
emphasizes that parents who practice
rituals routinely and reliably, “are sending a message very loudly that their
kids aren’t just a bothersome distraction from plowing through the to-dolist but are the central focus of life.”
What could be more fitting than celebrating with our children on a day that
reminds us how central the sun is to all
our lives?
Use the following list of suggestions
10 •SUMMER
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as a stepping off point to spark your
own solstice ritual. With the solstice
falling on a weekend this year, you will
be able to let the children stay up a bit
later to participate.
1) Plan a scavenger hunt for all ages.
For smaller children, number or alphabetize clues leading to treats and or
some fun summer supplies. Consider
sunglasses, sunscreen, bug catchers,
coupons for an ice cream outing on the
next hot day or glow in the dark necklaces. For tweens and teens try a
homemade coupon for a special privilege. Summer can be a good time to
practice new skills and boundaries.
2) Eat outside so that you are
tuning into nature on this special
day. Although a backyard barbecue is
great, a change of scenery can add to
the festive feel. Pack a picnic dinner
and head to a local park.

3) Try a family sun salutation to
greet the sun. A sun salute is a great,
overall body stretch for the whole family and kids will be amused by a group
downward dog. If there are no yogis in
your house check out You Tube or
Google a beginner’s version.
4) Make a wish. The summer solstice can be a time to reflect on what
has been happening in your life since
the winter solstice back in December. Is
there something you would like to
invite into your life? Write a wish down
and burn it, sending the wish into the
universe. This is fun to do outside but
if the weather does not cooperate
there are wishing papers that you can
light inside. They rise and turn quickly
to ash. Make your own or go to flyingwishpaper.com to purchase.
5) Start some summer resolutions.
Take your lead from the movie Judy

Moody and the Not Bummer Summer
and see if you and your family can
develop a Thrill Point List for summer.
What could you add to your list to
make the summer of 2014 an exciting
summer for everyone? Pull out the
poster board and markers and let the
creativity flow.
6) Stay up after dark and star
gaze together. Contact your local
observatory to see if they have a special
public event. For novice star searches,
borrow a book from the library to help
you determine what you are seeing or
use a free star finding app such as
Stellarium or SkyORB.
7) Involve water in your ritual. To
mark the arrival of summer can you
go swimming, or if the water is still
too cold can you all dip your toes in?
How about a family water gun or
water balloon battle? Your willingness to embrace a little mess can be
a signal that the more relaxed summer is here.

8) Get your hands dirty and
embrace the earth. It is not too late
to plant. Consider planting in your vegetable garden for a fall harvest or add
an annual to your flower garden to
mark the occasion.
9) Bury any negatives. Has anyone
in the family been struggling with
something, like a habit they want to
leave behind? Write down any behaviors or experiences you want to put
behind you and bury them. Use the solstice as a restart button.
10) Invite special friends to join
your celebration. Their presence will
add to the joyous feel of your event.
When planning your festivities try to
capture the “we always”. Kids love the
tradition of we always eat or do a certain thing on a special day. Maybe you
will always start solstice with a pancake
breakfast. Ask your children for suggestions and they will likely come up
with some fun options, the more
unique to your family, the better.
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pation of what will be found in the bottle and in returning the favor when it is
your turn.
Play glow in the dark bowling –
When the sun goes down, the fun can
still go on. Collect 10 empty two liter bottles. Purchase 10 cheap glow sticks from
the dollar store, activate and insert in
each bottle. Spray paint an old ball with
glow-in-the-dark paint or cover with
glow-in-the-dark Duct tape. Now your
ball and your pins can be seen in the
dark, adding another hour to your summer evening.
Have a make-over party - Rainy days
are a great opportunity for a spa day.
Search videos on YouTube to find a new
hairstyle or how to braid your hair.
Check out Tumblr for nail designs and
take turns giving each other a manicure. Raid your closets or old dress up
clothes and put on a fashion show. Be
sure to take some pictures and share
them with friends on Instagram.

YOLO!

A Summer Bucket List for
Your Middle School Daughter
by Pam Molnar

Summer is finally here. What a great
time to be a kid! As your middle-schooler
steps off the bus, she envisions carefree
days of sleeping in, hanging out with
friends and hours of good times. While
her intentions to have a spontaneous
summer with her BFFs may be good, a little planning can go a long way.
Ask your middle-schooler to get
together with her friends and make a list
of things they want to do over the summer. Encourage them to keep it within
reason of their age level and budget.
Stuck for ideas? Try some of these:
Have a paint war – Purchase nontoxic, washable paint, brushes and a pair
of safety goggles. Dress in old clothes
that you don’t mind throwing out.
Choose an open area for your battle so
you don’t get paint on anything important. Start off nicely by painting a bullseye
on your shirts. Then put on your goggles,
grab a handful of paint and start throw46
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ing. Be sure to keep your mouth shut!
Shower off outside by having a water
fight with the hose.
Open a lemonade stand – Don’t be
afraid to alter this classic summertime
event. Would popsicles be more refreshing on a hot day? How about snow
cones? Consider donating the money you
earn to a charity of your choice. Check
out alexslemonade.org to donate money
for childhood cancer or support an animal in need of surgery at your local animal shelter.
Send a message in a bottle – Instead
of sending the message to strangers,
why not share your message with
friends? Rinse out a large bottle with a
cap or cork. Decorate it and place the
bottle in a secret spot near your house.
Take turns adding a note or a small gift
(pencil, candy, etc.) to the bottle without being seen. The fun is in the antici-

Make a pizza fondue – Hungry?
Pour a jar of ready-made pizza sauce in a
fondue pot and turn on simmer. As it
warms, slice string cheese and pepperoni
logs in bite-sized pieces. You may also dip
cubed French or focaccia bread or raw
vegetables like green peppers and mushrooms. Use wooden kabob sticks as fondue forks and dip pizza items into the
sauce when it is warm. Enjoy!
Get discovered on YouTube – Get
out your camcorder or phone and start
recording. Although you may be tempted
to perform a song, YouTube is not only
for musicians. Write a comedy routine,
make your own cooking show or create a
parody of a TV show. If you know how to
juggle, knit or throw a curveball, you can
make a how-to video and share your talent with the rest of the world!
Time capsule – Fill a large jar or water
proof box with items from your summer.
Add shells from the beach, movie ticket
stubs, the speckled goggles from your
paint war, and other items from your
bucket list adventures. Be sure to include
plenty of pictures of you and your
friends! At the end of the summer, bury
the box, along with your bucket list in a
safe spot in the yard. Next year, dig up
the time capsule and relive all those wonderful summer memories.

First Friday
May 4th
6:00PM - 9:00PM
105 S. 2nd Street
Flagler Beach FL 32136
We celebrate our town with free live
music, local vendors, kids activities, and
a beautiful place to bring your family
and friends. Our businesses and museum stay open late as the City of Flagler
Beach plays hostess with the mostess
to visitors and locals. Dedicated to putting the family back in Flagler Beach,
First Fridays will hopefully become your
choice each first Friday of the month.
Palm Coast Song Writers Festival
May 4th
6:00PM - 9:00PM
105 S 2nd Street
Flagler Beach, FL 32136
Join us for three days of entertainment
at three great venues in Flagler County
on May 4th, 5th & 6th. Friday, at First
Friday in Flagler Beach; Saturday at the
Daytona State College Amphitheater;
Sunday at the Palm Coast Arts Foundation Stage in Town Center.
FREE ADMISSION to all shows - just
bring your own concert chair. show is
welcomed!

Arbor Day Celebration
May 5th
9:00AM - 2:00PM
975 Central Avenue
Palm Coast, FL 32137
Palm Coast’s love of trees and commitment to the natural environmental will
be celebrated at Arbor Day 2018 on
Saturday, May 5 – featuring a tree giveaway, butterfly release and tent, entertainment, paper-shredding service, and
fun activities for all ages.
The Arbor Day Celebration will be 9 a.m.
to 2 p.m. at Central Park in Town Center,
975 Central Ave., Palm Coast. Admission
and all activities and entertainment are
free; refreshments and products from
vendors will be available for purchase.
Cycle Flagler Ride for Rotary
May 6th
6:00AM. - 12:00PM
201 Airport Road
Palm Coast, FL 32164
Please join us! This ride begins at Flagler
Executive Airport and continues along
Flagler Beach’s scenic Atlantic coast.
You can ride up to 40 miles along the
A1A Scenic Byway in beautiful Flagler
County and St. John’s County.
Salt Air Farmers Market
May 6th
10:00AM - 2:00PM
9505 Oceanshore Blvd
Marineland, FL 32080
Something good has sprouted! Fresh seasonal produce ALL year long at Marineland, just south of St. Augustine, Florida!
Salt Air Farmer’s Market offers the freshest local produce, gourmet foods and
artisan crafts. Whether you are looking
for homegrown tomatoes, juicy watermelons, or creative local art, we have a
wide assortment to choose from.

Palm Coast Farmers Market at
European Village
May 6th
12:00PM - 4:00PM
The European Village
101 Palm Harbor Pkwy
Palm Coast, FL 32137
Expect quality vendors at the Palm
Coast Farmers Market which takes
place at the Courtyard of the European
Village. The Restaurants and Bars are
also open for a sit down drink or meal
for your enjoyment as well.
As soon as you walk in to the Courtyard at European Village, you’ll be welcomed by dozens of vendors displaying
their original work, selling quality food
items, giftware and more.
Sea Turtle Hospital Tour
May 10th
10:00AM - 11:30AM
9505 N Ocean Shore Blvd
St. Augustine, FL 32080
The Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab
is now offering tours on the second and
fourth Thursday of the month and second Saturday of the month at 10 a.m.
Cost is $15 per person. There is a limit
of 10 people per tour.

Pairings at Ocean Art Gallery
May 11th
7:00PM - 9:00PM
206 Moody Blvd.
Flagler Beach, FL 32136
Movies in The Park
May 11th
8:20PM - 10:30PM
975 Central Avenue
Palm Coast, FL 32164
The City of Palm Coast’s Parks and Recreation Department and Flagler Schools
proudly present Movies in Central Park
on the second Friday of each month
(excluding January, February, November and December). The movie begins
at dusk and admission is FREE. A different family feature is shown on the big
screen in the stage area at the main entrance to the park. We remind all movie
goers to bring blankets, chairs, picnic
baskets, bug spray and make plans to
come early with your family, friends
and neighbors
Food Truck Tuesdays
5:00PM - 8:00PM
975 Central Avenue
Palm Coast, FL 32164

Picnic and Pops
May 13th
8:00PM
The Palm Coast Arts Foundation (PCAF)
invites you to the 11th Annual Picnic
and Pops featuring the Jacksonville
Symphony performing on their new
outdoor stage! Bring a picnic basket
and enjoy an outdoor evening concert
with one of the nation’s top regional
orchestras, the Jacksonville Symphony,
as they perform favorite show tunes,
Broadway hits and popular film scores.
The event will take place at 1500 Central Avenue located in Palm Coast’s
Town Center on Sunday, May 13th. At
6:30p.m. the park opens and 8:00p.m.
the concert begins.
Tickets are $45 for members and
$50 for the general public. Tables of
10 are $450 for members and $500 for
the general public.

GTM & Marineland Lecture
May 15th
10:00AM - 11:00AM
9600 Ocean Shore Blvd.
St. Augustine, FL 32080
This program is one of an ongoing lecture series presented on the 3rd Tuesday of the month by the GTM Research
Reserve and Marineland Dolphin Adventure. The series is designed to help
learn more about your coastal natural
world. These events are FREE. However,
limited seating is available. Tickets must
be purchased online. Please bring your
ticket to the Marineland gift shop at
9:45 a.m. on the day of the scheduled
presentation to gain entry. Participants
without a ticket will not be allowed entry. Tickets for the following month will
not go on sale until the conclusion of
the current month’s event.

Bandshell Summer Concert Series
and Fireworks
May 25, 2018 - September 29, 2018
Starting: 07:00 PM
70 Boardwalk Avenue Daytona Beach,
FL 32118
Movies on the Halifax
June 1, 2018
25 Riverside Drive Ormond Beach, FL
32176
Movies on the Halifax is a family friendly event that takes place on The Casements’ lawn in Rockefeller Gardens.
Movie goers bring blankets and chairs
to enjoy an outdoor movie along the
banks of the Halifax River.
First Sunday BBQ
June 1, 2018
From: 02:00 PM to 06:00 PM
705 Main Street Daytona Beach, FL
32118
Join Dirty Harry’s on the 1st Sunday of
every month for its customer appreciation party! Free food, drink specials,
live music and prizes.
Guys & Dolls Jr. Summer Camp
MON, JUN 4, 2018 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Guys and Dolls JR. is an adaptation of
the show considered by many to be the
perfect musical comedy. Its namesake
ran for 1,200 performances when it
opened on Broadway in 1950 and won
numerous Tony Awards, including Best
Musical. Frank Loesser’s brassy, immortal score and witty book makes Guys
and Dolls JR. a perennial crowd pleaser.

Water Works
Ages 6-8
Fri, Jun 8, 2018 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
tag! You’re a scientist! Join the tag
team mad scientists for mind-blowing
adventures with water as you explore
the mystery, magic, and power of water. Construct a water wheel, design a
water run, and create art with wonderful water! $15
Hippie Fest
June 16, 2018
3PM Street Festival; Concert at 7:30PM
600 Auditorium Blvd. Daytona Beach,
FL 32118
A longed for summertime event, the
“Peace, Rock and Positive Vibes” street
festival grooves into a concert at the
Peabody Auditorium featuring stellar
performances by celebrated artists including The Grass Roots, Paul Revere’s
Raiders, Rare Earth’s Peter Rivera, The
Cyrkle and 1910 Fruitgum Company.

Fourth of July Fireworks
July 4, 2018
1 Cathedral Street, St. Augustine, FL,
32084
St. Augustine’s Fourth of July celebration
at the Castillo de San Marcos includes
a live music concert and a spectacular
fireworks display over the historic bayfront. “Fireworks Over the Matanzas” is
one of the biggest and best fireworks
displays on the East Coast, featuring
5,000 individual shells exploding as high
as 2,000 feet and as low as 100 feet.
Coca-Cola Firecracker 250
July 6, 2018
1801 West International Speedway
Boulevard Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Watch NASCAR XFINITY Series stars
race for 250 miles/100 laps toward a
coveted victory under the lights at Daytona International Speedway!

Coke Zero Sugar 500
July 7, 2018
1801 West International Speedway
Boulevard Daytona Beach, FL 32118
The Coke Zero Sugar 400 is a summer
tradition as American as fireworks and
cookouts. Be a part of one of the most
anticipated races of the season as the
stars and cars of the Monster Energy
NASCAR Cup Series battle for victory
under the lights. If it’s Daytona Beach
fireworks you’re looking for, immediately following the drop of the checkered
flag, enjoy one of the biggest fireworks
displays in the Southeast. It’s the perfect
way to spend a summer night at one of
America’s most festive times of year.
Ripleys Summer Movie Series
July 11th, 2018
8:30pm
27 St. George Street, St. Augustine, FL,
32084
Shriners Parade, Fireworks and Music
July 17, 2018
250 North Atlantic Avenue Daytona
Beach, FL 32118
Enjoy the festive Shriners Parade along
A1A from Sunsplash Park to the Ocean
Center. Music and fireworks to follow
at the oceanfront Bandshell. This event
is held during the 2018 Shriners Convention in Daytona Beach and is open
to the public.
Music by the sea
July 18, 2018
350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine
Beach, FL, 32080
This exciting concert series features a
different delicious restaurant at each
concert event along with a different local performer. The concerts are a family-friendly eventand a favorite thing to
do among locals during the summer
in St. Augustine.

Fins and Freedom Sail
July 20, 2018
111 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine,
FL, 32084
Guests can sail with educators from the
world’s first “oceanarium” and learn all
about dolphins in their natural habitat,
as well as the important conservation
work going on at Marineland today. As
with all sails offered by Schooner Freedom, guests are welcome to help the
crew raise the sails and assist with other sailing duties.
Sunset and Full Moon Paddle
July 27, 2018
850 Anastasia Park Rd
Saint Augustine, FL 32080
7:15pm - 8:45pm
Experience breathtaking views as the
sun sets and the full-moon rises illuminating the Salt Run tidal basin. Multiple watercraft options include single
kayaks, tandem kayaks and stand-up
paddleboards. Private boats welcome
at a lower rate. Includes an interpretive,
storytelling element during the paddle.

Second Saturday Jam Session
July 28, 2018
3:00pm - 7:30pm
3100 S. Oceanshore Blvd.
Flagler Beach
Jam out at Gamble Rogers State Park.
Musicians of all levels are encouraged to
bring instruments and a chair to join the
circle for a casual acoustic jam session.
Music in the Park Summer Concert
July 28, 2018
300 Anastasia Park Rd
St. Augustine, FL 32080
5:00pm - 8:00pm
As one of North Florida’s favorite beach
culture pastimes for over 30 years, King
Eddie with Pili Pili’s brand of Caribbean
beats and calypso rhythms, combined
with a blues and rock attitude, continue to inspire mass celebration.

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Take

THAT
chest pain.

We offer the fastest ER wait times in the area.
We are ready to treat you or a loved one during an emergency.
Check out our wait times at
MemorialHospitalJax.com/TakeThat.

42 Doctors Village Dr.
St Johns, FL 32259
(904) 407-8500

memorialemergency
JULINGTON

CREEK

SUMMER 2018 59

education

School News: Summer 2018
Summer VPK Programs
Four St. Johns County School District schools will host a 2018 Summer VPK Program. Sites are Durbin Creek, Ocean Palms, South Woods
and Osceola elementary schools. To participate, your child must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2018.
The summer program is conducted in a camp-like atmosphere with planned water days, arts and crafts and all around summer fun incorporating kindergarten-readiness activities. Breakfast and lunch are available.
The program is Friday, June 1 through Wednesday, July 25. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
There will be no program on July 4 in observance of Independence Day.
While parents should call the Early Childhood Services office to reserve their child’s spot, they must also register their child online to obtain
the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Certificate of Eligibility. The website is www.ecs4kids.org.
If you have any questions or require further information, please contact Donna Fenech in the Early Childhood Services Dept. at
(904) 547-8959.

Battle of the Books Winners
Congratulations to the PVPV/Rawlings Sea Turtles and Palencia Pirates on
their hard earned wins at the 12th Annual Elementary School Battle of the
Books which were held on May 8th and May 10th. The Northern Battle was
held at Landrum Middle School and the Southern Battle at Gamble Rogers
Middle School. We are extremely proud of the students for their participation in this literacy event. The students were well prepared, well behaved,
and “well read”. We also appreciate all of the parents, peers, teachers, staff
members, and administrators who supported our readers.
A special thank you to principals Ryan Player and Greg Bergamasco
for hosting the events. Please acknowledge the media specialists, teachers and support staff for the time they took to create the questions, and
to recruit, prepare and mentor the students from their schools. St. Johns
County School District librarians are amazing and we are better because
of them. Thank you to all of the school administrators for supporting
your library media programs and specialists. Additionally, many school
technology specialists, maintenance managers, and other employees
pitched in to make this possible. Thank you!
Lorrie Cosgrove, Brock O’Shell, Amanda Bergamasco, specialists in
the Instructional Resources and Media Services department, are the
epitome of hard work and coordination. This event would have been
impossible without their support. Thank you also to the amazing Media Services staff for their hard, behind-the-scenes work to support
these efforts.
Next year promises to be as exciting as this year. View the lists of the
new SSYRA books. Be sure to share the lists and encourage your students
to read, read, read over the summer.
60 SUMMER
OCTOBER 2018
2017

The Palencia Pirates Team at the 2018 Battle of the Books

The PVPV/Rawlings Sea Turtles Team at the 2018 Battle of the Books

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THIS SUMMER, MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR

FREE KIDS MOVIES
at

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, & THURSDAY AT 10:00 AM
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
THE CROODS JUNE 12, 13, 14
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 JUNE 19, 20, 21
CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS JUNE 26, 27, 28

Flagler Hospital is a 335-bed, acute care hospital that is consistently ranked among the top 5%
of all Hospitals in the nation for clinical excellence. The hospital has operated as a not-for-profit
healthcare institution in St. Augustine, Florida since its founding in 1889.

World Class Maternity Services,
Right here, Close to home.
At Flagler Hospital we understand that the birth of every baby is a life-changing experience, and we
are honored to share this special time with you and your family. Our comprehensive education classes
include preparation for childbirth, infant CPR, grandparent and sibling courses as well as breastfeeding
education and support groups. We have also formed a partnership with a local prenatal yoga instructor
to support your health during pregnancy. We are proud of our highly experienced care team and the
community physicians, midwives, and anesthesiologists who serve the families in our area.
Amenities offered to our expectant families include:
Childbirth preparation classes
Luxurious private postpartum suites with wireless Internet connection and flat screen television
Knowledgeable and caring breastfeeding support, complete with classes and a monthly support group
High-tech infant security system
Individual car seat instruction with Project Buckle Up representative

New to the area and looking for a physician? Check out our full physician directory
online by visiting www.flaglerhospital.org and clicking on Find a Provider.